Just how competitive is it to get offers for an economics degree??

[Tealfish]

My DC has got his heart set on applying for economics and finance BSc for sept 24 entry. This has come out of the blue really as he was originally thinking finance and accounting but after reading a bit about what economics is, he decided this was for him. He is predicted A*AA in maths, biol and chem. (School don't offer economics) and he's thinking Leeds, Exeter, Southampton, Lancaster, Cardiff. I've read that its very competitive to get offers for economics but wondered if anyone had any experience / tips. We live rurally so I think relevant work experience would be difficult perhaps... Thanks

[Piggywaspushed]

It's very competitive. My DS's friend (with all 9s at GCSE and predicted straight A stars) applied to 5 unis and got two offers. 2 of them were the 'usual suspects' for competition and rejected him (Cambridge after interview and one of the other big hitters), Warwick and York accepted him. His other , perhaps more surprising, rejection was Leeds.

[Piggywaspushed]

It doesn't matter that he doesn't do economics A Level, mind. But his personal statement will have to reflect enthusiasm, knowledge, insight into economics and all its meanings and applications.He needs to do wider reading. Lots of great books out there.

[HoneyMobster]

I agree that economics is increasingly competitive. Is there any reason your DS didn't choose an essay subject? It will depend on the course but ability to write essays would be a useful skill to have.

Also avoid the very 'mathsy' courses. Some of these will prefer maths plus FM.

DS2 received offers from Edinburgh, Nottingham and Nottingham with 3 x A* plus A predictions (Maths, Chemistry, Economics and Latin).

[HoneyMobster]

Sorry that should have said Exeter, not Nottingham twice!

[Phos]

Increasingly competitive. It seems to be the "must have" degree of the day.

Not doing economics is fine because not all schools have it but as someone else said, lots of wider reading referenced in his personal statement, passion for the subject backed up by that reading. If he has the option of an EPQ then doing that on an economics related subject will be extremely useful - will make up for lack of essay subjects in his a-levels, give him something to talk about in the PS and potential interview, if the uni does interviews.

Does the school offer FM? It's sometimes preferred for the very mathsy courses but if it wasn't on offer they'll understand it couldn't be taken!

I know work experience won't be plentiful locally but maybe look into summer work experience schemes - some will provide accommodation if you live far away and even if not, worth taking him and getting an AirBnB! The Big 4 and some of the large banks are a good place to start looking. PwC do Insight events, HSBC offer a Work Experience Programme and I'm pretty sure Morgan Stanley and JP do as well.

[Wynturphelle]

From the experience we had last year, Economics is not just competitive, it's globally competitive. The proportion of places allocated to international student intake on the Economics courses seems to be quite high too. Warwick specified 50% international offers out of 150 places overall, if I remember correctly. Looking at the Durham stats too (available on their page) - you've a much better chance of securing a place if you are paying the higher international fees. Loughborough did have Economics places in Clearing this year though.

DC predicted (and achieved) three A* (with Economics) and also Further Maths and A in EPQ. Rejected from four of his five choices last year, but did get an offer from Southampton.

[Piggywaspushed]

One thing in your DS's favour, however, is the joint degree. These are a bit less competitive than straight economics.

[Teddleshon]

It’s tough. My dd had 12 9’s at GCSE and predicted (and got) 3 A* (including maths). Rejected by Oxford (obviously not straight Econ.), Edinburgh, Durham and UCL.

[RainBow725]

Agree - Uber competitive. I would have x2 insurance choices on the list. One a lower grade for Economics and one a different but related course e.g, Business Economics. It's not just about getting the grades, getting the offers in the first place seems much harder than with other subjects.

[CraftyGin]

I think he probably needs more of a range of universities. It sounds like Leeds, Exeter, Cardiff and Southampton will have similar offers. Sorry, I don't know about Lancaster.

Two of my DDs have done Economics - one at Royal Holloway University of London, and the other at Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh one dropped her entry requirements twice before firming. AAB - ABB - BBB. They wanted English students paying the full whack. It worked for her and there is really not a better place to go to uni.

[Theworried2]

@Teddleshon A lot of economics places unofficially want 4 A levels where possible including further maths and maths, so maybe that is why it was hard to get an offer.

[seriallylurking]

With those grades he's likely to get a place (although a second A* would be ideal). Economics is a very competitive course and there is a reason an A in maths is essential for most good universities. Lots offer open lectures- or even a MOOC on it to a) decide if he actually really likes it and b) to add to a personal statement as evidence of pursued interest. PS needs to go beyond just having read 'freakonomics' or 'the undercover economist' although these are good starting points.

[clary]

Lots of good advice here. Make sure you check out whether the unis he lists prefer FM - they may not specify it as not all schools offer it but many students may have it.

Friend's lad applied post exams with Astar AA in maths and similar, applied to UCL, LSE, Imperial, Leeds, Nottingham, only got offer from Nottingham much to friend's dismay.

Key thing is to have lots of good stuff on the PS related to economics and why he wants to do it, what he has learned and how useful it has been.

But yes it is certainly having a moment. I would advise some serious insurance (unlike my friend's lad who was very badly advised IMHO).

[CraftyGin]

@seriallylurking

With those grades he's likely to get a place (although a second A* would be ideal). Economics is a very competitive course and there is a reason an A in maths is essential for most good universities. Lots offer open lectures- or even a MOOC on it to a) decide if he actually really likes it and b) to add to a personal statement as evidence of pursued interest. PS needs to go beyond just having read 'freakonomics' or 'the undercover economist' although these are good starting points.

DD1 did Economics at RHUL (maybe this isn't a 'good' university).

They had two streams - those with mathematics A-level and those without. -

I think they put the Mathematics A-level cohort into the BSc stream and the others into the BA stream. Basically, they taught the necessary mathematics to the BA people.

I don't think anyone needs to worry about further maths.

[Windseven]

It’s all about targeting it right. “Top” unis for Econ are stupidly competitive so I’d only pick 1-2 of them (eg Warwick, LSE, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester).

Anecdotally Southampton seems to be less tricky. Not sure if Cardiff prioritise Welsh students. Lancaster def worth a punt.

[Piggywaspushed]

@CraftyGin

DD1 did Economics at RHUL (maybe this isn't a 'good' university).

They had two streams - those with mathematics A-level and those without. -

I think they put the Mathematics A-level cohort into the BSc stream and the others into the BA stream. Basically, they taught the necessary mathematics to the BA people.

I don't think anyone needs to worry about further maths.

They do the extra maths at Birmingham too. I think Birmingham is quite a popular choice for those who love economics but who don't have FM (maybe - shock!-they didn't want to do it!) who sit at AAA- ABB type grades, as is York.

Lancaster does BA and BSc, too.

Quite a few unis are a bit deceiving. They don't say out loud that they want or require FM - but they get so may applicants this is how they sift (not all schools have FM as a 4th A level, so we are really reducing some kids to two maths A levels plus ANO under this model). I am not sure I approve of covert requirements... some people with the capacity to be brilliant economists are rejected in favour of pure mathematicians. I watched a webinar where an economist said it is changing the character and ideological leanings of economists, and not necessarily in a good way.

Btw, Bath isn;t mentioned upthread as a competitive big hitter and it is.

[poetryandwine]

Hi, OP -

Your DS is at the Exeter offer, 1 PG above the Leeds offer and, from what I can see, 2 PGs above the other 3 offers. (I can only see the Lancaster offer for 2023 so it may go up).

Because Economics programmes are so competitive, I think getting offers from Exeter and possibly Leeds will take some luck. A great PS and supracurriculars will definitely help. This is fine - these are his aspirational choices. The other choices are likely to come through if the wind is at his back; however because Economics is competitive, to be very safe DS could trade one of them for an ABB entry requirement.
I agree that lining up a relevant activity for Summer 2024 might help. Best wishes to him.

[Tealfish]

Thank you for all your comments, it’s certainly given me / us some food for thought. Good luck to all those who have their sights set on economics 🤞🤞

[Decorhate]

@Tealfish My Ds is doing Economics + Politics. No relevant work experience due to Covid.

I agree Economics is very competitive and certainly last year there was very little leniency on results day for dropped grades.

My Ds applied to Bristol, Leeds , Southampton, Manchester & Sheffield. Had similar predicted grades to your Ds. Had offers from them all apart from Manchester. Nottingham & Bath also good places to apply to.

I think your Ds should have a good chance of getting offers from the unis you mention. The ones that seems hardest to get into for Economics are Oxbridge, LSE and Warwick

[Spirallingdownwards]

If your son is looking at Economics and Finance that is far less competitive than a straight Economics degree.

[Theworried2]

@Spirallingdownwards It depends where tbh. The new imperial course in economics, finance and data science is very competitive (5% offer rate approximately).

[Mountaineer0009]

it also depends on which uni, and how popular the course is at that uni

[Spirallingdownwards]

@Theworried2

@Spirallingdownwards It depends where tbh. The new imperial course in economics, finance and data science is very competitive (5% offer rate approximately).

Yes I very much suspect that is a one off where it would be.

[ChalkMyDrive]

@Tealfish this also comes down to what he has to put on his personal statement. It isn't just about any work experience, lots of places won't take any under 18s but what else has he done? Any summer schools? Any MOOCs? Entry grades are the lowest a university will take someone in on so look at getting a second A star for his predicted grade before he applies. My Ds is also applying for Economics but different universities.

[Economics2024]

Hello,
My son wants to study economics at LSE. He got predicated Maths A*, Economics A, Physics A,Further Maths B. GCSE grade 9 in maths, further maths, physics, chemistry, RE, Economics, geography. Grade 8 in English and biology, grade 7 in Spanish 
He is also sitting for TMUA to make his application stronger and has also done senior maths challenge.
Please advise me if he stands a chance for LSE economics as he has predicted grade B in further maths? Thanks